Riot police use batons against charging crowd after 'illegal rave' in London

Riot police have used batons to disperse hundreds of people after an alleged illegal rave in central London.

Officers blocked off Black Prince Road on Albert Embankment after reports a fire had broken out at a building near Lambeth fire station on Halloween night.

There were dramatic scenes as riot police with dogs and shields drew their batons against a charging crowd, some of whom threw bottles and shouted "Scum".

London Fire Brigade said they had received a report of a fire alarm but that there was no blaze.

A witness said: "It was mayhem. There was traffic chaos as police blocked the road."

Most of the crowd had dispersed just before 12.30am, while those who remained chanted at officers.